Colorado’s concerning quarterback competition nears decisive moment

Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter reportedly gets a second chance as the starter this Saturday against Wyoming. (Photo by Cristian Blanco/Sko Buffs Sports)

While Shedeur Sanders polarized the masses as starting quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, what many failed to realize is how quickly things could get out of hand without him.

A retooling era was always expected following the loss of Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter Jr., but the early returns have been disconcerting. 

Typically not a position that rotates in and out of the lineup, Colorado has played three quarterbacks through three games, creating an unstable environment for success.  

When Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter committed to the Buffs, it felt like there was a clear dichotomy between him and a four-star commit, Julian Lewis. While “Juju” was the star signing of the recruitment period, the 17-year-old would likely need time to develop into a high-level college quarterback. 

Salter, the 22-year-old fifth-year senior, seemed poised to start in 2025. While coach Deion Sanders remained bullish on a true quarterback competition through spring training and camp, it felt like a clear guise to instill confidence in Lewis and to provide him with reps. 

Salter’s debut against Georgia Tech didn’t go particularly well. Despite losing just 27-20 against the now-ranked Yellow Jackets, it never felt like the Buffs had control of the game. The passing game struggled, and Salter’s decision-making was questionable at best. 

The ebbs and flows of a college quarterback tend to be met with extreme reaction, but it wasn’t expected that Salter’s job would immediately come into question. 

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter high-fives coach Deion Sanders after a touchdown drive against the Delaware Blue Hens. (Zachary Giesenschlag/Sko Buffs Sports).

Reports that Lewis would see snaps in the following game weren’t surprising considering his star appeal, but exactly how that balance of playing time would take shape raised questions. Lewis would enter against Delaware briefly, but only after Salter led two strong first drives that resulted in a touchdown and a field goal. 

Leaving the game up 10-0, Salter wouldn’t re-enter until Colorado boasted a 31-7 lead late in the fourth quarter, yet it wasn’t Lewis who hoarded the playing time, either. 

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub was the forgotten man in this competition. He was not a highly recruited prospect like Lewis, nor a flashy transfer with experience like Salter. He was, however, the longest tenured Buff on the roster. 

The backup to Shedeur Sanders over the previous two seasons, Staub arrived in Boulder at the same time Sanders did. A year-and-a-half-season head start on learning offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur's playbook didn’t hurt either, and showed up when he was called up against the Fightin’ Blue Hens. 

From third on the depth chart, Staub’s inspiring play was enough to earn him the start in Colorado’s first conference matchup against Houston. Like Salter, his first start did not go very well. 

Like Salter, Staub would also lose playing time the following week. It was reported that the former would return as the starter for the upcoming game against Wyoming. 

Coach Prime had two options when deciding how 2025 would handle the quarterback plan: either commit to Salter in his final season or Staub as the incumbent while Lewis develops and saves eligibility, or allow Lewis to struggle through the season in the name of long-term development. 

Prime chose neither option, opting for a season-long quarterback competition that seems redundant if Lewis is the long-term plan at the position.

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Ryan Staub gets loose as Kaidon Salter looks on before a matchup with the Houston Cougars. (Hannah Howell/Sko Buffs Sports)

There is some validity behind this plan. Competition tends to let the best swim to the top, not settling for anything less than greatness. All players must compete and perform to their highest ability, and if they don’t, someone else will gladly step into that opportunity. 

So far, none of the quarterbacks have earned the starting role, providing Prime some leeway in how he’s handled this situation.

However, this can also create a dangerous precedent. By not allowing players to play through struggles or learn from their mistakes, it creates a mental hurdle and fear that they’re playing for their job, not for the team. 

Animosity between positional groups can form when teammates begin to look like enemies. The trust it requires for a team to operate effectively can begin to erode, defeating itself before it sets foot on the field. 

This Darwinistic approach works better at some positions than others. It’s still early in the season, but Coach Prime has to be careful not to set a precedent of erratic playing time and short leashes. 

Even the best quarterbacks struggle and play through slumps at some point, so creating an environment to work through those issues is paramount to a successful coaching program. So far in 2025, Colorado has opted for a sink-or-swim strategy instead.